Content curation and product linking system and method

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method of operating a user-searchable database system of curated, themed digital content data, which method includes operating a Connects function to process and store heterogeneous digital content comprising topic data as curated topic data and identified connections between each topic and other topics, and operating a user interface to enable users to search the curated topics and present a search results page in a way that invites further investigation of topics searched, including a list or compilation of topics matching terms defining the search. The method also includes displaying topic elements corresponding to the list or compilation of matching topics in prioritized order based on each topic&#39;s relatedness to the search.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/870,813 filed May 8, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/947,029 filed Jul. 20, 2013 now U.S. Pat. No.10,650,430, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 61/800,355 filed Mar. 15, 2013, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the preparation and operation of auser-searchable database system that employs a unique user interfaceconfigured to enable system (database) access, for example, to receivequeries to search stored curated topic content data (cultural content,for example) and present query search results pages (and related pages),including related curated topic data, in a screen environment thatinvites and enables a user's further investigation of the search resultsand of editorially curated relationships between curated topicsorganized into interconnected groupings, or themed subjects. The themedsubjects are depicted as graphical representations configured tofacilitate access to textual (joining) descriptions of the editoriallycurated relationships therein. The joining descriptions as well asproduct data, links to product data, etc., are stored and recalled atrun time for display in various forms.

Systems and methods for curating and distributing digital content, suchas digital video, music, pictures, etc., are known. For example, USPublished Patent Application No. 2012/0271825, to Garthwaite, et al.(Garthwaite) discloses a system and method of presenting a digitalcontent program with continuously provided digital assets streamed overa digital content platform. Garthwaite defines assets as anymachine-readable and/or machine storable files containing digitalcontent or a pointer or placeholder, URL or equivalent means forredirecting an end user to the digital content (sometimes referred to aslinking or hyperlinking). Digital content includes any digital video,music, pictures (images), etc. Users search the asset library based ontags, keywords and metadata linked to the asset itself.

So, Garthwaite processes data to populate storage with digital contentfiles, or links to same and realizes a list or library indexing same.Garthwaite presents a list of assets in a form of interactive datarecords that, when activated, link to the asset itself for directdownload.

Garthwaite does this (curating the digital content called assets) usinga programming engine. The system then, in response to a search query,selects a subset of the assets from the entire aggregate of the curatedassets based on similarity metrics (as between the assets) and ordersthe subset of assets into the digital content program. The selectedassets are processed through a similarity metrics engine or re-rankingengine prior to distribution. The similarity metrics engine ordersgroups of assets based on inputs from a content graph, a filter, a termfrequency-inverse document frequency module, and a trending analysismodule in any combination.

Garthwaite's digital content system and method, however, merely presentsusers with a list of assets related to the user's query that links theuser to the asset. There is absolutely no context returned with anyasset—the processing, searching and linking to the multimedia productappears to be for business purposes only.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a user-searchable database of curatedcontent and a system and method of operating the system that overcomesthe shortcomings of the known related and previous arts.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a computer-implemented methodof operating a user-searchable database system of curated, themeddigital content data. The method includes steps of processing andstoring heterogeneous digital content data as a collection of curatedtopics, including data identifying connections defining a degree ofrelatedness between each topic and other topics; operating an interfaceto enable users to search the curated topics and generate searchresults; and rendering a search results page including a list ofmatching topics, embodied as topic screen elements, in a prioritizedorder of presentation based on a degree of relatedness of the topiccontent of each of the topic screen elements to the search query,wherein each of the topic screen elements are displayed with some partof the respective topic's stored content and, interactive links,including a link to a list or compilation of the other topics based onthe connections.

The interactive links within the topic screen elements include a link,and wherein activating the link renders a page presenting a list orcompilation of product data preferably displayed in a prioritized orderreflecting the degree of relatedness to the topic, and once expanded, tothe topic and to the topic's connected topics. The interactive linkswithin the topic screen elements also include links to themed subjectsrelated to the topic screen element.

The method preferably further comprises preparing and storing themedsubjects, wherein each of the themed subjects embodies a description ofthe themed subject and the editorially curated relationships among asubset of connected topics. The step of rendering includes presenting apage displaying a themed subject in a way that communicates the themedsubject's editorially curated relationships, using a graphicalrepresentation. The editorially curated relationships included in thegraphical representation of a themed subject comprise links to textsdescribing the editorially curated relationships between the connectedtopic pairs comprising the themed subjects. The rendered themed subjectsare presented with links to relevant product data.

The step of rendering the search results page includes presenting linksto other data including multimedia data, if available. For example, thestep of rendering the search results page includes a list of links tothemed subjects ranked by degree of relatedness to the user's searchterm, and product data, embodied as product data screen elements, listedin a prioritized order based on a degree of relatedness of the productdata to the search. For that matter, the product data are presented asscreen elements and wherein the product screen elements actively link toa process or function for purchasing the product associated with theproduct screen element.

In another embodiment, the invention includes a computer-implementedmethod of operating a user-searchable database system of curated, themeddigital content data. The method includes steps of operating a Connectsfunction to process and store heterogeneous digital content comprisingtopic data as curated topic data and identified connections between eachtopic and other topics; operating a user interface to enable users tosearch the curated topics and present a search results page with searchresults in a way that invites further investigation of topics searched,including a list or compilation of topics matching terms defining thesearch; and displaying topic elements corresponding to the list orcompilation of matching topics in prioritized order based on each of thetopics' relatedness to the search.

The connections between topics include a relatedness ranking or scorebetween the topic and the other topics. The Connects function operates aConnects database with topical data records corresponding to each of thestored curated topics and the connections of each topic to the othertopics related thereto. Preferably, the Connects function generates oneShop for each curated topic, and wherein each Shop comprises a list orcompilation of product data associated with a topic and its connectedtopics.

A Shops function generates product data screen elements for each productof a Shop, wherein the user interface displays the product screenelements. The Shop can be a Shop based on a relatedness of products tothe search, a Shop based on relatedness to a disambiguated Connectstopic and a Shop based on relatedness to the topics within a themedsubject. The Shops are displayed in window-like Shop screen elements, ina displayed page, that upon activation by a user cause a productspurchase page to be presented that enables users to purchase a productassociated with a Shop screen element.

The method also includes preparing and storing a list of themed subjectsembodying descriptions of the themed subjects and of the editoriallycurated relationships among the topics comprising the themed subjects.The themed subjects are prepared from a themed editorial perspective andthe editorial perspective defines a theme of the database systemconfigured with the themed subjects. Alternatively, the themed subjectsare presented as graphical depictions of the relatedness between topicsincluded in each of the themed subjects.

The graphical representations of the themed subjects include connectiveelements linking topics of a themed subject, and wherein the linking oftopics is two-by-two. For that matter, the connective elements, uponactivation, present a textual description of an editorially curatedrelationship or connection between the two topics, and the userinterface provides for displaying a home page to receive the user searchqueries and to present a daily feature element within which links totopics, themed subjects, Shops and product data are presented asindividual screen elements within the daily feature element. The methodmay include a change element within the daily feature element thatenables the user to navigate sequentially through thematically relatedsets of the individual screen elements.

The method may further include presenting links in rendered pages tosocial media websites and/or application program interfaces to enableusers to share search results including themed subjects. The method mayfurther include a step of presenting links to social networking sites orprocesses that enable users to upload curated topic data as well asthemed subjects and graphical representations related thereto.

The inventive methods may embody a computer program product comprisingprogram code means stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium, for carrying out all steps of the method when the computerprogram product is run on a computer or processor-driven device. Forthat matter, the invention may comprise a database system with aprocessor; a memory; and an interface enabling communication by and withthe database system, where the memory includes a set ofcomputer-readable instructions that upon execution by the processimplements the method of operating the database system.

In another embodiment, the invention includes a database system. Thedatabase system comprises a Connects function configured to processimported topic content data to realize stored, indexed topic datarecords, including topic data content, topic connections data andrankings or scores defining a relatedness between the topical datacontent comprising the topical data records; a user interface functionconfigured to receive users' search queries to search the indexed topicdata records, in cooperation with the topic Connects data and rankingsor scores associated with the topical data records by the Connectsfunction and, to present search results in a screen environment thatinvites and enables the user's further investigation of the searchresults; a ThemedSubjects function configured to select any of a set ofpre-prepared themed subjects stored as themed subject records thatembody descriptions of editorially curated relationships between aparticular subset of topics; and a Shops function configured to selectproduct data stored as product records or product metadata, inassociation with a topic or themed subject.

The user interface presents the topics, themed subjects and product dataas screen elements with active links in various pages generated at runtime. The screen elements include active links to social media websitesthrough which particular topics, themed subjects and product data can beuploaded for sharing and/or public viewing. For that matter, the themedsubjects are pre-prepared to define a perspective on the subset oftopics and wherein the perspective defines a theme for a systemconfigured to operate with the themed subjects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The present invention can best be understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited tothe precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 presents a system-level diagram depicting a server (and memory)operating the inventive method across the Internet;

FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 . depicts an embodiment of a home page with two primary screenelements;

FIG. 4 depicts a Connects topic page;

FIG. 5 depicts a themed subject page;

FIG. 6 depicts a Shop product page;

FIG. 7 depicts the FIG. 3 home page with a search query input (“Dylan”);

FIG. 8 depicts a search results page for search query input “dylan”;

FIG. 9 depicts a Shop page (list of products);

FIG. 10 depicts a Connects video lightbox or page;

FIG. 11 depicts a product quickview lightbox or page;

FIG. 12 depicts the themed subjects landing page, featuring themedsubjects of the day and past days in screen elements.

FIG. 13 depicts a Shop page (list of products) after a product is addedto a shopping cart;

FIG. 14 depicts the Connects connection lightbox or page;

FIG. 15 depicts a Shop (list of products) expanded view;

FIG. 16 depicts a themed subject Shop;

FIG. 17 depicts a themed subject reader view or page;

FIG. 18 depicts a page presented in response to users clicking on one ofthe topics presented in a graphical representation of a themed subjectdepicted in FIG. 5 page;

FIG. 19 depicts a themed subject editorially curated relationship(connection) lightbox or page;

FIG. 20 depicts a themed subject media lightbox or page;

FIG. 21 a depicts the server depicted in FIG. 1 in greater detail;

FIG. 21 b depicts a computer readable medium; and

FIG. 22 depicts a flowchart of a method embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of theinvention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The example embodimentsare in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention, and aredesigned to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skillin the art. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended tolimit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as definedby the appended claims.

In an embodiment, the invention provides a database system that isconfigured to process available topic-defined content, to realizecurated content data (records) comprising the topics and data definingthe (main) topic's connections to other topics. Further, the systemprovides a unique user interface configured to receive queries to searchthe curated topic content data (cultural content, for example),editorially created themed subjects, and product data, and to presentsearch results pages, including related curated topic data, themedsubjects data, and product data, in a screen environment that invitesand enables a user's further investigation of the search results vialinks to other pages within the site. The themed subjects are comprisedof editorially curated relationships between curated topics and aredepicted as graphical representations configured to facilitate thedisplay of textual (joining) descriptions of same. The joiningdescriptions as well as product data, links to product data and onlinevideos, etc. are stored for recall and display at run time.

A connection in Connects (see FIGS. 4, 10 and 14 ) is defined by a linkbetween two topics. The system and method control the WIKIPEDIAMINERengine (open source software in the preferred embodiment) to analyze thelinks between the topics and determine a relative ranking of connectedtopics for each main (query) topic. The relatedness rules are within theWIKIPEDIAMINER engine and enhanced by the inventive processes herein.The Connects connections between topics are defined by rules. Suchconnections between topics are based on reading and ranking the knownrelationships among topics rather than any evaluation of any attributeof the topics themselves, such as category or type.

As used herein, a curated topic means that the topic has been alteredfrom its original state according to the method and system described inthis patent. For example, non-curated topical information is taken intothe described system and, after the application of the method, isenhanced in a way such that topics and the connections between topicsare known and become operative.

At run time (for example, in response to a search query), various pagesare created that include the content, for example, parts of curatedtopic records with certain relatedness to the search query. These topicdata records are presented in (or as) topic screen elements which eachcontain an active link to the full topical data record, active links tothemed subjects (presented as graphical representations) related to thelinked-from topic screen element, and preferably, an active link toproduct data associated with the linked-from topic screen element.Preferably, a list of records related thematically to the subject matterof the search query (in the form of themed subject screen elements) and,a list of records describing products related to the query (in the formof product screen elements), or both are displayed concurrently with thelist of topical records (topic screen elements).

The curated, stored topic data records include topical textual content,connection data (for example, a list of all topic records connected to agiven topic record), and links to other data (that may or may not bestored), and metadata. At run time, various pages are created with topicelements, where each topic element includes, for example, some part ofthe stored topic data records. For example, a search page is rendered inresponse to a search query (at run time) and displays topic screenelements related to the query; or, for example, a (main) topic recordpage is rendered for a topic data record that displays topic screenelements (for topic data records) that are connected to the (main) topicdata record. Links to other topic content, such as image or video data(which are not memory-stored) are also presented in the rendered pages.

The themed subjects comprise theme-related narratives, essays,explanations, etc., as well as data defining topics and relatednessbetween topics (“joining descriptions”); the themed subjects areproprietary and are stored in a ThemedSubjects database, which ismanaged by the ThemedSubjects function. In one page, for example, asearch query results page, portions of themed subjects (derived from thestored records), are recalled and rendered as window-like screenelements to enable a user (by clicking on one of the displayed themedsubject elements) to navigate to a graphical representation of thethemed subject. For that matter, FIG. 5 , which is described in detailbelow, presents a themed subject as a graphical representation.

The graphical representations of the themed subjects depict the topicsincluded in same and their interrelatedness. The joining descriptionsare editorially prepared to describe editorially curated relationshipsbetween the topics, the interrelatedness of which substantiates the“theme” of any one of the themed subjects. The themed subjects, and inparticular, the joining descriptions of the topics therein, compriseproprietary data and, as presented via the user interface at run time,likely include links to YOUTUBE videos, and stored or linked productdata and images.

The method of operating the database system is implemented in softwareon a computer-based electronic device, for example, a web server. Theserver operates a web service, which provides the user interface anduser's access to the database system and curated content, thereby.Available content data are imported (downloaded). One source of topiccontent processed to configure the database system is WIKIPEDIA. Oncedownloaded, the imported data content is processed using WIKIPEDIAMINERtools, under control of a Connects function (210; FIG. 1 ; see below).WIKIPEDIAMINER is a toolkit that operates to provide simple,object-oriented access to WIKIPEDIA's structure and content and tomeasure connectedness between articles (topics) in WIKIPEDIA.

In greater detail, WIKIPEDIAMINER is utilized to calculate and weighrelations between WIKIPEDIA topics. The calculation is based on metricsusing inbound and outbound link counts. Additionally, selectedinformation is extracted for each topic, including the canonical topicname, the infobox name and the first paragraph. Technically this processinvolves the creation of intermediate comma separated values (CSV) filesby running a Hadoop process on AMAZON EMR (Elastic Map Reduce). Thisinvolves 17 m2.xlarge Amazon's elastic compute cloud (EC2) instances,running for roughly 5 hours. This amount of time is bound to increase asthe number of WIKIPEDIA topics increases (first step).

The first step includes:

-   -   a) Downloading a WIKIPEDIA dump from the WIKIPEDIA site.    -   b) Starting the WIKIPEDIAMINER Hadoop process using Amazon's EMR        service. Please note that this process starts two controller and        14 task EC2 instances which do the heavy lifting of generating        the intermediate CSV files using the open source MapReduce        algorithm developed by GOOGLE.    -   c) The resulting CSV files are copied to an elastic block        storage (EBS) volume.

A second step uses these intermediate CSV files to calculate the topicrelations, which requires approximately 20 hours:

-   -   a) Make a snapshot of the EBS volume that holds the CSV files.    -   b) Start one m1.large EC2 instance that reads the page.csv in        order to post the topic IDs to an Amazon SQS (Simple Queue        Service) queue.    -   c) Start six m2.4xlarge worker EC2 instances that perform the        Connects calculation in parallel; each of the EC2 instances        fetches topic IDs from the SQS queue, performs the Connects        calculation and stores the result in separate CSV files.    -   d) In parallel, start one m1.medium worker EC2 instance that        calculates topic labels for each topic, storing the result in        CSV files, too; topic labels are WIKIPEDIA redirect names or the        text of links that point to a topic.    -   e) Each of these eight EC2 instances is provided with the        snapshot data via EBS volumes created from the snapshot that        holds the CSV files.

A third step prepares the CSV files generated in step 2 to be loadedinto a temporary MySQL (My Structured Query Language) database,requiring about 7 hours:

-   -   a) Copy the step-2 CSV files from the 7 worker EC2 instances to        the m1.large EC2 instance.    -   b) Concatenate the CSV files, sort them by ID and split them        again into chunks of 1 GB. The reason for this step is related        to technical details of MySQL's InnoDB database engine; due to        its clustered index structure, InnoDB can load sorted CSV files        much faster than it can unsorted ones. Moreover, the files        should not be larger than 1 GB for performance reasons.    -   c) The resulting CSV files are loaded into MySQL

A fourth step is the creation of an Apache Soir index over the temporaryMySQL database, which requires about an hour and, a fifth or last stepincludes swapping the temporary MySQL database and Soir indexes intoproduction, which is an atomic operation that guarantees dataconsistency and assures that the MySQL database and the Solr index arein sync; this step takes just one second, after which the data areavailable for the intended operation.

Please note, however, that while the invention is described with use ofthe WIKIPEDIA content data (i.e. WIKIPEDIA-defined topics andconnections), the description is presented for exemplary purposes onlyand is not intended to limit the scope and spirit of the invention. Anyappropriately available and prepared content data can be processedaccording to the inventive principles to realize the curated topic datarecords and the interrelatedness data therebetween.

The invention also embodies a software framework that enables copyingand making appropriate modifications to a software template, in order tooperate with the specific stored themed subjects (with which thesystem/method is preconfigured), and with data defining topic-to-topic,editorially curated relatedness (the joining descriptions includedwithin the themed subjects), to realize specific theme-basedimplementations of the inventive database system and method. Thecontents of the joining descriptions (which in one sense areconnections) are contextual and bear a particular relatedness to thesystemic theme. By their relatedness to the theme, the contents of thejoining descriptions also relate in varying degrees to the curated topicdata records. The software framework, therefore, is reusable indeveloping applications, products and solutions described in detailherein.

FIG. 1 depicts an environment in which the user-searchable databasesystem of the invention operates. Therein, the inventive database systemembodies one or more computer systems, which operate(s) as a web server10. Web server 10 is programmed (and/or otherwise configured) to carryout and enable inventive operation. As used herein, server refers tohardware and/or software, as long as each are interpreted as storing thecurated content and operating to enable users (user browsers) connectedthereto to access the curated topic data content through the userinterface.

Server 10 also is connected to the Internet 20 and to a secondary datastorage device (memory) 2542. A secondary memory storage device (memory)2544, a desktop computer (Desktop) 30, a laptop computer (Laptop) 35, aSmartphone 40, a Tablet/electronic hand-held device 45, anInternet-connected television (Internet-connected TV) 25, also areconnected to the server 10 via the Internet 20. And while the inventionis described with reference to server 10, the system may be implementedusing any computer-based electronic device or data processor (forexample, a distributed network of computer systems, programmed andconfigured accordingly), without deviating from the inventiveprinciples.

Digital content providers (block 50) are the source of the topicalcontent (e.g., WIKIPEDIA). Block 55 represents providers of linked (asdistinguished from stored) content, in any form such as image data,moving image data, audio data, multimedia data, textual data, etc.,without limitation (Linked digital content providers). Links to same areprovided when pages provided through the user interface are rendered atrun time. Block 60 (Physical or digital product providers) representsvarious sources of physical and/or digital products or product data,which are accessed by the server 10 via the Internet 20. For thatmatter, product data and/or links to product data may be found in one ormore product databases 65, connectable to the server 10 via the Internet20. Please note that the server or database system also operates withlocal databases (see FIG. 2 ) and that while FIG. 1 depicts the server10 connected directly to the Internet, the inventive operation is notlimited thereto. The server 10 may be connected to the Internet 20 byother means, for example, wirelessly or via a satellite or cellular linkwithout deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The inventive system and method comprise or operate a number of mainfunctional or operational sections: Connects, Shops, ThemedSubjects, UI(user interface) and Communications. These functional sections areidentified in FIG. 2 as the Connects function 210, the Shops function220, the ThemedSubjects function 230, the user interface function (UI)240 and the Communication function 250. The functions cooperate toimplement the inventive system, as will now be described in greaterdetail.

Connects

The Connects function 210 defines the content-sourced relationships(i.e., the connections) between a curated topic and all of the othercurated stored topics, according to rules. The connections are based onreading and ranking the known degree of relatedness among topics ratherthan any evaluation of any attribute of the topics themselves. Theconnections are defined by a relatedness engine, which in a preferredembodiment is the WIKIPEDIAMINER engine. The data are first imported ordownloaded using a process configured to expediently move very largeamounts of data and, temporarily store the pre-processed content data tooptimize processing, Determining the most significant relationshipsbetween any arbitrary topic (from WIKIPEDIA, for example), and all otherWIKIPEDIA topics contained in the imported content data is a significantprocessing task. The task is supported in part by application of theWIKIPEDIAMINER tools and may employ several web services, such as EC2,MapReduce, RDS, and SCIS, to form a cloud-based grid to run this complexprocess to generate the data required for system operation.

The Connects function 210 is agnostic to topic type (for example, aperson, a musician, an American, etc.) and is concerned only with thescores given to the relationships between a (main) topic and itscorresponding set of connected topics. The relatedness (or score)between any given main topic and its connected topics is, in part,derived from how often a connected topic is mentioned within a maintopic's data, how often a topic is mentioned within connected topics'data and, how often both topics (main and connected topics) arementioned in the data of other topics (all together, the “linkfrequency” algorithm). (Note that any “main” topic can also be a“connected” topic and vice versa.) The relatedness scores or rankingsare generated for the topics ahead of time using WIKIPEDIAMINER tools(in a system preconfiguration stage) and then called up at run time toform pages during the system's operation. Relationships so scored by theConnects function change dynamically based on the periodic updatesand/or revisions of the sourced content data in the system.

The Connects function 210 operates a Connects database (C DB) 212; theShops function 220 operates a Shops database (S DB) 222; and theThemedSubjects function 230 operates a ThemedSubjects database (T DB)232. The UI function 240 operates the user interface and theCommunication function 250 provides for communication (e.g., data,messaging) between the system and outside sources for content or data,for example, video content or updated product data or metadata. TheConnects function 210 includes scripts that dynamically (at run time)pull relevant content from such outside sources (FIG. 1 , block 50) andfrom Linked digital content providers (FIG. 1 , block 55). The Connectsfunction also provides to the Shops function topic and connection datathat is utilized when a Shops is created for one of the Connects topics.

In the embodiment shown, the Connects function 210 also operates a topicsearch function (with proper protocol) on the Solr platform, matching auser's search term/string with the generated index of Connects topicsfor the stored, curated topic data. That is, in response to a user'ssearch input, the topics search function passes the search term to Solras three different subterms (for example, as-is, as-is with a wildcardappended and as a phrase search on “labels” only). The three searchterms are joined with a logical OR operator. A case-insensitivesubstring match is executed against topic fields, where numbers inparentheses indicate the simple and the phrase boost factors, forexample: topic title (1, 10), right-left anchored topic title (4, 400),right-anchored topic title (30, 30), left-anchored topic title (20, 20),and label (40). As a secondary ranking, among topics with the same Solrscore, topics with more connections are assigned a higher score linearlyto the number of connections.

Shops

The Shops function 220 generates and populates a Shops database 222 withthe product records (comprising product data and/or links to productdata). Connects topics and themed subjects operate with Shops. A Shop isa list of products which are related to the user's topic. The productslisted in the Shop may be derived from the Ingram Book database, or anyother sources of product data (see block 60 in FIG. 1 ). The inventionincludes and operates a highly specialized, custom search engine (Shopsfunction 220) to deliver, at run time, the user-requested Shop.

The Shops function 220 further operates links from any particularConnects page (for example, a page in which a topic, a list of connectedtopics, a list of related theme subjects, etc., are displayed) tocorresponding Shops, by which link the user navigates to a Shop. Inaddition to its main topic (i.e. its corresponding Connects topictitle), the Shop_search uses at run time, as part of its input (as afilter), the titles of the topic's connections, derived from contentproviders (e.g., WIKIPEDIA), processed by the Connects function 210 andstored in Connects database (C DB 212), Queries are processed, passed toa manager (in the preferred embodiment, a Solr manager), which iscontrolled according to the inventive principles, Given a Connects topictitle, product rules define the products displayed in the Shop's productlist, i.e., the Shop. These product rules relate to a Solr result,modified by boost values, that is invoked for any given topic.

The Shops function 220 further operates in the themed subjects. Productimages (screen elements) preferably are arranged four-per-row, with eachrow corresponding to joining descriptions between topics included in athemed subject (see graphical representation of a themed subject in FIG.5 ). The themed subjects Shops page displays the four productsassociated with each and every one of the editorially curatedrelationships in the themed subject.

A Shop products page is a page presented by the interface includingdetails provided from the metadata of all the products (each identifiedby a unique “EAN”), grouped as a single work. In effect, Shop productpages group all the products from the same copyright as a single work.

ThemedSubjects

While the Connects function 210 Connects topics to the user's main topicof inquiry, themed subjects do not have a single main topic. For thatmatter, a Connects topic may have 100 or more connections (i.e.connected topics). Themed subjects are preferably limited to around 10topics and, to a similar number of editorially curated relationships(i.e. connections) between topics.

The ThemedSubjects function 230 manages themed editorial workscomprising the joining descriptions, which describe editorially curatedrelationships therebetween. Portions of the joining descriptions (text,for example) are presented in window-like areas (screen elements),preferably with buttons or labels linking to other data, for example, toa Shop. Themed subjects may be described as a collection of contextual(topic) data records that relate to one another and to the theme of thethemed subject (The Harlem Renaissance, for example). Together with theuser interface 240, the ThemedSubjects function 230 enables explorationof a themed subject, with a special focus on the editorially curatedrelationships, which comprise the graphical representation.

In greater detail, relationships or relatedness between topicscomprising any of the themed subjects are displayed in the graphicalrepresentation. Window-like elements represent the topics within thethemed subject, and the positioning of the window-like elementscommunicates relatedness between the topics that make up the themedsubject. Small, numbered circles overlapping the edges of two connectedtopics, essentially joining the topics, provide links to thecorresponding editorially curated joining descriptions. Clicking on oneof the numbered circles connecting two topics in the graphicalrepresentation navigates to a page in which the joining description forsame is presented.

For each themed subject editorially curated relationship, theThemedSubjects function 230 runs the title of the two “connected” topicsthrough the Shops function 220. This is done serially and takes the toptwo product results for each query. Four products for each editoriallycurated relationship are realized.

Preferably, a themed subject includes a graphical representation page, a“connection” page(s), a Media page, a Reader View page and a Shop page.The “connection” page displays a joining description (copy pertaining tothe editorially curated relationship between the two topics) and thefollowing buttons: previous “connection,” next “connection,” Shop,Media, and Back to Map.

Reader pages are like the themed subject graphical representation pages,except that instead of the graphical representation (or “CultureMap™”,the reader page delivers all of the editorially created textual copyrelating topics to each other as depicted in the graphicalrepresentation of the themed subject. For example, the themed subject'stitle and “About this Map” copy is shown in the left column, and in themain content area, title and joining description for each editoriallycurated relationship is displayed in a single, printable document.

To search the ThemedSubjects database (232), the search term is passedto Solr. A case-insensitive substring match is executed against thefollowing themed subject fields: title, subtitle, themed subjectdescription, topic title, related Connects topic title, joiningdescription text, and author name.

User Interface

The user interface function 240 provides a user interface that isintuitive, attractive and configured to operate on a wide array of webbrowsers and modern mobile devices using the HTML Canvas element. Theresult is a highly functional and cross-platform user interface to thestored topical data, product data and themed subject data, i.e.,providing access to the database system and method.

Communications

The Communication function 250 provides for communications between thesystem and method (application program) and the user electronic devices,content providers, products providers and databases, etc. (see FIG. 1 ).

Operation of the invention, including particular operation of the userinterface will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3-20 . Afterprocessing, storing and indexing the imported content, including theconnections or relationships between topics (a score or rankinggenerated by the invention's process), the method includes operating awebsite (a server) to which users connect (using their browsers) toaccess the curated content via the pages generated at run time andpresented through the user interface.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a “home page” provided by theinvention, with two primary screen elements. The first screen element310 is a search box and, the second FIG. 3 screen element (below thesearch box element) is a “daily feature” element 320. The daily featureelement selectively presents data content derived from curated storeddata and linked data (not stored) otherwise accessible to the systemand/or running software application.

A window-like area or screen element 322 (“mediander Connects™”)presents one Connects topic (e.g.; Zora Neale Hurston) and a list offive other Connects topics that are connected to the first topic. Theentire screen element 322 is a button that, when pressed, takes the userto the Connects topic page (depicted in FIG. 4 ) named at the top of thescreen element.

Another window-like area 324 (in FIG. 3 ) comprises elementsrepresentative of themed subjects (identified in FIG. 3 as“medianderculturemap”). As introduced above, FIG. 5 depicts an exemplarythemed subject (e.g. Harlem Renaissance Redux), as a graphicalrepresentation of topics and the relationships between the topics, inaccordance with the themed subject.

Another window-like area 326 (in FIG. 3 ) comprises a (“mediandershop”)element representative of an individual Shop. For example, activation ofan element 326 causes the system to open a Shop page, such as the Shoppage depicted in FIG. 9 . Screen element 326 may also be configured tolink directly to an individual Shop product page, such as the onedepicted in FIG. 6 .

Each of the three window-like areas (screen elements) in FIG. 3 operatesas buttons to navigate to the element (and another screen) named withinthe button and, are organized together under a common “theme.” In thiscase, the theme is “Harlem Jukebox.” In one embodiment, a number oftriples or themes (up to eight) are presented each day. By default, theeight triples auto-rotate, as in a slideshow or carousel. The eighttriples may be manually browsed using screen select elements 328 and330.

The FIG. 6 Shop product presents information and reviews on a product(for example, “Chronicles: Volume One”) and a list of other products theconsumer may find of interest. The product information is included indatabase 222 and, initially, derives from Ingram, in the preferredembodiment. The user is enabled to click on different formats to changethe information displayed. Clicking on a related product thumbnail(element) opens a product quickview lightbox (or page), such as thatdepicted in FIG. 11 (“Bob Dylan Revisited”).

FIG. 7 depicts the FIG. 3 home page with “Dylan” (input by a user) inthe search box element 310. After using an input device to activate the“GO” button or pressing return, the system navigates to a search resultspage. FIG. 8 provides an exemplary embodiment of a search results page(e.g., mediandersearch).

The exemplary search results page (FIG. 8 ) has three main sections orscreen regions that display results based on the user's search term. Forexample, the “dylan” search resulted in topic matches depicted in ascreen area 840, themed subject matches depicted in a screen area 850and product matches depicted in a screen area 860. Elements 840, 850 and860 are preferably scroll elements. Within each “match” displayed, theuser is invited to choose which match topic, match product or matchthemed subject in which he or she is interested, and to click on any ofthe elements.

The topic matches are shown arranged (in window-like screen area 840) inlists of topic elements 842. The topic elements of the search resultspage (FIG. 8 ) each comprise at least part of the topic content data(and links to related data). The Connects search function “matches” theuser's search query or string to topics within the Connects database212. As explained, the Connects search function parses the user'sliteral words or phrases (search string), looks for matches within theofficial titles and known alias titles of the topics where the results(“matches”) are ranked according to several criteria, includingconnections between the topics.

Each topic element 842 (of the topic matches) is shown to preferablyinclude a topic image, a topic title, text about the topic, a link to aConnects 844 (CONNECTS button or element) on the topic, a link (SHOPbutton or element) 846 to a Shop for the topic, and a link to themedsubjects (e.g. Rockstar Memories; A Piece of My Heart) 848, related tothe topic (e.g. “Bob Dylan”). Clicking on a “Connects” link 844,navigates to the Connects main page (as shown in FIG. 4 ), clicking on a“Shop” link 846, navigates to a Shop default view (as shown in FIG. 9 )and clicking on a themed subject title 848 navigates to the themedsubject graphical representation (as shown in FIG. 5 ).

The themed subject matches 852 (presented in window-like area 852) areranked according to relevance and are positioned in area 852 accordingto such relevance ranking. For example, a user search term match withina themed subject title ranks higher than a match within the text of ajoining description within a themed subject. Clicking one of the listedthemed subject matches 852 causes the system to navigate to thegraphical representation of the themed subject as shown in the FIG. 5embodiment.

The product matches 862 (presented in window-like area 860) are rankedaccording to relevance. For example, a match within a product titleranks higher than a match within a product description text. Clickingone of the “product match” elements 862 causes the system to navigate toa Shop product page (such as FIG. 6 ).

The general functionality of the global navigation links andfunctionalities account (sign in) 870, system description (“aboutmediander”) 874, shopping cart (your cart 876, etc), which arepositioned above a search box 872, and social media buttons, areavailable at the top and bottom of the screen (that is, the display areacomprising the user's display device), by the user interface. FIG. 4 ,for example, presents a window-like area 470 with active screen elements471 to enable forwarding to various social media websites (e.g.,PINTEREST, GOOGLE+, FACEBOOK, TWITTER).

The FIG. 4 Connects main page (“medianderconnects”) provides the userwith information, media and products on the user's chosen (main) topic(screen element 448), as well as a list of up to 50 topics related tothe user's main topic, in window-like screen element 451. Starting atthe top and, extending down the page (display screen area) along theleft side, the Connects page presents elements 448 with a textdescription of the main topic (from curated stored content), a link tothe main topic's page on WIKIPEDIA (clicking on “W” opens a separatewindow), an image 449 of the main topic (live stream from WIKIPEDIA,i.e. not stored content), a list of themed subjects 450 (linkingelements) related to the main topic (results are generated by a morerestrictive version of the algorithm of the ThemedSubjects function 230on the Search Results page), videos in a display area 453, which arerelated to the main topic (e.g., from the YouTube API), and a displayarea 454 presenting a link to a Shop (FIG. 8 ) for the main topic andproduct screen elements with links to Shop product pages (FIG. 6 ).

Clicking on one of the links (elements 450 a, 450 b, 450 c) presented inthe Related (“CultureMap”) theme subjects element 450, causes thatthemed subject's graphical representation to be presented (such as FIG.5 ). Clicking on one of (e.g., twelve) videos (active icon elements) 453causes a video lightbox to open. (FIG. 10 presents an exemplaryembodiment of such video lightbox or page, which allows the user toplay, and navigate through, the videos related to the main topic.)Clicking one of the product thumbnails 454 will open a product quickviewlightbox or page. FIG. 11 presents an exemplary embodiment of such videolightbox or page. The product quickview lightbox (FIG. 11 ) displaysproduct information and an image, and also provides a link to theproduct's details page (Shop product page; FIG. 6 ) and provides thefunctionality to add the product to the user's shopping cart (detail onFIG. 13 ). If other formats are available, the lightbox provides buttonsto change the product information to match each format.

Each connected topic element 452 has two links. The first link is to theconnection lightbox or page depicted in FIG. 14 , which is accessed byclicking on the image or the name of the topic. The second link,accessed by clicking the “make anchor” tab, is to a new Connects topicpage with the connected topic now being the main topic (as in FIG. 4 ).The user can hover over the connected topic button 452 to see a shorttext description of the topic. The text is extracted from the topicaldata records stored in the Connects database 212. Global navigationlinks and functionalities (account, search box, shopping cart, etc.) andsocial media buttons (elements 471, etc.) are available at the top andbottom of the page (screen) and provide customary functionality.

The Connects topic page also provides additional links 482 and 484 tothe themed subjects landing page (FIG. 12 ) and to the home page (FIG. 3), respectively.

FIG. 5 depicts the topics (of a themed subject) in window-like areas ina graphical representation of relatedness between topics. The themedsubject default view page, depicted as a “culturemap” in FIG. 5 , offersa graphical presentation of the content of the themed subject, adescriptive “about this map” text 502, map author, and links to thethemed subject Shop presented in FIG. 16 , links to a themed subjectreader view or page presented in FIG. 17 , wherein texts 1901′associated with graphical representation of a connection between twotopics 510 are presented and accessed using scroll button 1702. With theexception of the list of “related themed subjects” (501 in FIG. 5 ) andthe list of related products in the themed subject Shop (FIG. 16 ), allof the content on the themed subjects is editorially generated; none ofit is automatic or algorithmic. On the graphical representation, topics502′ are represented by the squares or tiles, and descriptions (i.e.,joining descriptions 1901 in FIG. 19 ) between topics 502′ arerepresented by the numbered circles 510, which join two topics. Thegeneral functionality of the global navigation links and functionalities(account, search box, shopping cart, etc.) and of social media buttonsis available at the top and bottom of the page. And as described above,additional links are available to the themed subjects (“culturemap”)landing page depicted in FIG. 12 and to the home page, depicted in FIGS.3 and 7 .

As described, a Shop page (list of products), such as that depicted inFIG. 9 (“mediandershop”), is constructed at run time by the Shopfunction 220 with information garnered or generated by the Connectsfunction 210 and a full-featured Shops database 222 (FIG. 2 ). The Shopsearch is complex and utilizes relatively straight-forward keywordmatches (on the main topic) alongside matches for the topics that areconnected to the main topic (and other processing techniques). The Shopsearch engine applies specialized knowledge about a topic and thetopic's set of connected topics, to finding and presenting to the userthe best and most relevant products about a topic.

Just as in the Connects main page (FIG. 4 ), the Shop default view (FIG.9 ) is fundamentally about a single topic (the main topic, Bob Dylan,for example). Shops offer products (thumbnails or elements) 904 by orabout the main topic, and, once expanded, products by or about the maintopic's connected topics (see FIG. 15 for the expanded Shop view). Inthis way, like Connects, Shops are about both topics and the connectionsbetween topics, joining such topics as contextually relevant to a user'schosen topic.

In FIG. 9 , each product element 904 includes a product image 906,title, author, price and other product data—all stored (and fromIngram). The interface enables the user to navigate to a Shop productpage (FIG. 6 ). There, the user may add the selected product to his orher cart using a link 602, and he or she can click buttons to seeinformation on different formats (when applicable). This list ofproducts 902 in the Shop (FIG. 9 ) can be sorted by relevance or priceand alphabetically.

Along the left of the Shop page (FIG. 9 ), a button or element 910 isincluded to “expand the Shop to include connections for . . . ”.Clicking on button 910 causes a change in the presentation of theproduct elements in window-like area 902 (see FIG. 15 ), wherein oneproduct for each of the connected topics is added to the current Shoppage. Below the “expand” button 910 is a list 912 of up to 50 topicelements 914, topics of which are connected to the main topic (seeConnects main topic page in FIG. 4 ). Clicking on one of the connectedtopics will reassemble the Shop with the connected topic now as the maintopic, Below the expand button 912 is a screen element 916 that presentsa special promotional list of products (e.g., music best sellers), thatvary depending on the main topic's predetermined category(entertainment-music, society and culture—philosophy, etc.)

The lower left of the Shop page presents a link 918 to the Connects mainpage for the topic of the present Shop (for example, as depicted in FIG.4 ), where the name 920 of the main topic at the top of the page alsolinks here. The general functionality of the global navigation links andfunctionalities (account, search box, shopping cart, etc.) and of socialmedia buttons is available at the top and bottom of the screen.

FIG. 12 depicts the themed subject landing page, featuring five recentlypublished themed subjects, in a top page section or screen element 1202.Clicking anywhere in screen element 1202 will take the user to thegraphical representation of the featured themed subject. A button 1203provides for switching between the different themed subjects of the day.Screen elements 1204 each correlate to one of a set or cluster 1204 a.Each set or cluster 1204 a comprises six themed subject elements 1206 asshown in FIG. 12 . Clicking on a cluster name 1204 changes the cluster1204 a presented, and the set of six themed subjects displayed. Clickingon one of the themed subject's cluster buttons 1206 causes presentationof that themed subject's graphical representation page (such as depictedin FIG. 5 ). The user may also click on the small “Shop” button 1208 atthe bottom right of each cluster button 1206 to go to that themedsubject's Shop (FIG. 16 ).

FIG. 13 depicts what the user sees when a product is added to theshopping cart. From here, the user can delete a product from the cart,go to his full cart (an entire screen), begin checkout, or close thecart pop-up.

FIG. 14 is a Connects connection lightbox or page that presentsinformation and links for the connected topic, text about the“connection” between the main topic and the connected topic and links toother topics connected to the main topic. In more detail, a textualdescription of the connected topic 1402 is presented in a topicalelement (the curated, stored content), a link to the connected topic'spage on WIKIPEDIA (clicking on the small “W” opens in a separatewindow), an image of the connected topic 1406, a list of themed subjects(each a “CultureMap”) 1408 (with links 1408 a, 1408 b, 1408 c) relatedto the connected topic, related media 1414 (via YouTube API), and a linkto the Shop 1412 for the connected topic (FIG. 9 ).

Clicking on one of the themed subjects links (1408 a-c) causespresentation of that themed subject's graphical representation page,such as that depicted in FIG. 5 . Clicking on the “Media” button 1414opens a Connects video lightbox or page, such as that depicted in FIG.10 as described above. In this case, the set of videos presented to theuser (12, for example) is generated by a compound search (for examplevia YouTube's API) that utilizes both the main topic name (i.e. thetopic named at the top left of FIG. 4 ) and the connected topic name.Clicking on the “Shop” button 1412 opens a Shop on the connected topic,such as that depicted in FIG. 9 .

On the right side of the FIG. 14 , underneath the banner reading: “How[main topic] connects to [connected topic],” various connection texts1420 are displayed in screen element 1418, which are navigated usingscroll button 1421. Each connection text that may appear isalgorithmically generated and describes an aspect of the connectionbetween the main topic and the connected topic. In the aggregate, theydescribe the relationship between the main topic and the connectedtopic.

Any textual descriptions, as used herein, are excerpted from theConnects 212 or ThemedSubjects 232 databases. For example, excerpts foruse in connection texts 1418 may be generated during the processingstage by the Connects function 210. The excerpts are full sentencesfiltered from the data records to eliminate unwanted sentence fragmentsor other less desirable content. The excerpts may derive, for example,from the WIKIPEDIA article for the main topic, the WIKIPEDIA article forthe connected topic, or from another WIKIPEDIA article. Below theexcerpts are links 1420 to the WIKIPEDIA article's page, which opens ina separate window (a new page).

Along the bottom of the FIG. 14 page is a navigation strip or element1422. Strip 1422 enables users access to other topics (topic elements1426) connected to the main topic. Clicking on any topic element 1426displayed in the strip causes the system to replace the connectionlightbox (page) with one for the “chosen” connected topics (element1426). The user also can make the topic of the connection lightbox (i.e.the connected topic) the main topic of a new Connects main page (FIG. 4) by clicking on the “make anchor” banner 1430.

As mentioned, FIG. 15 depicts a Shop expanded view (to which a user hasnavigated by clicking the “expand . . . ” button 910, such as depictedin FIG. 9 ). The Shop expanded view adds up to 50 products (elements904′) to the list 902′ of available products; the expanded Shop adds upto one product from each of the Shops for each of the 50 connectedtopics. For example, when expanded, the “Bob Dylan” Shop includes, inaddition to the original default list of Bob Dylan products (about 40),the top product from the Joan Baez Shop, the top product from The BandShop, etc. The display elements 904′ for the newly added products showthe name of the connected product and offers a link to the connectedtopic's Shop (such as depicted in FIG. 9 ). The general functionality ofthe global navigation links and functionalities (account, search box,shopping cart, etc.) and of social media buttons is available at the topand bottom of the screen.

FIG. 16 depicts the themed subject Shop, which offers the four bestproducts 1602 for each editorially curated relationship 1902 on a themedsubject. The themed subject Shop algorithm takes the top two productsfrom each topic's Connects Shop and displays the products four pereditorially curated relationship. For example, the editorially curatedrelationship (FIG. 5, 510 ) between Harlem and Claude McKay takes thetop two Shops function search results for Harlem and the top two Shopsfunction search results for Claude McKay. These four products 1602 arethe editorially curated relationship products. The algorithm alsofilters for duplicates. Clicking on a product thumbnail element 1602opens the product quickview page or lightbox, such as already describedwith respect to FIG. 11 .

As mentioned, FIG. 5 , the graphical representation of a themed subject,contains topics 502′ and editorially curated relationships 510. Themedsubject editorially curated relationship (connection) lightbox or page(FIG. 19 ) can be accessed from the graphical representation of a themedsubject in two ways: First, a user may click on element or button 510 tobe taken to the editorially curated relationship (connection) lightbox(FIG. 19 ) for that editorially curated relationship; second, as shownin FIG. 18 , a user may click two joining topics (502′), one after theother, on the graphical representation to be taken to the editoriallycurated relationship (connection) lightbox for the two topics (FIG. 19). FIG. 18 depicts the graphical representation after one topic has beenselected, and before a second one is pressed. Additionally, information(“basic data”) is shown for all activated subjects on the graphicalrepresentation (see FIG. 18 ).

The editorially curated relationship lightbox of FIG. 19 contains theprincipal content concerning the themed subject. This themed subjecteditorially curated relationship (connection) page enables users to readeach individually-authored joining description 1901 on the displayinterface (e.g., preferably 200 words, or less). A “CONNECTIONS” element1904 enables navigation from one editorially curated themed subjectrelationship 1902 to another editorially curated relationship 1902. The“next” and “previous” buttons at the top of the page move through thethemed subject's editorially curated relationships, in sequential orderto the themed subject's narrative sequence, as indicated by the numberedcircles in FIG. 5 .

Along the bottom of the FIG. 19 themed subject page are links to: athemed subject Shop, such as that depicted in FIG. 16 ; a themed subjectmedia lightbox or page, such as that depicted in FIG. 20 ; a themedsubject Reader View, such as that depicted in FIG. 17 ; the themedsubject graphical representation, such as depicted in FIG. 5 ; and tothree editorially chosen “related Connects” topics. Clicking on one ofthe “related Connects” links would take the user to a Connects mainpage, such as in FIG. 4 . The first two “related Connects” topics foreach editorially curated relationship 1902 are the “best match” for thetwo connected topics. Themed subject topics and Connects topics areconceived independently. When creating the list of “related Connects”for each themed subject's editorially curated relationships, the editorsidentify the most relevant Connects topic for each of the topics on thethemed subjects. In this way, editors make a link between the topicsincluded in the themed subjects (and a graphical representation of same,such as FIG. 5 ) and the curated topics in the Connects database 212.For example, Bob Dylan on the themed subject about sixties music isidentified as the same Bob Dylan topic that is in the Connects database.

FIG. 20 depicts a themed subject media lightbox or page (“HarlemRenaissance Redux MEDIA”), configured to enable users to view andnavigate through all the videos chosen for this themed subject (one pereditorially curated relationship; video links stored in theThemedSubjects database 232). Media pages are displayed in a lightboxwhen the user presses a media button on any editorially curatedrelationship (connection) page (FIG. 19 ). The purpose of the media pageis to present videos associated with the themed subject's editoriallycurated relationships. For that matter, the media page has just onestate, in which it links to a video or other media file pertaining toone editorially curated relationship, and displays thumbnail images inthe right column of the other videos associated with the othereditorially curated relationships with the themed subject.

FIG. 17 depicts the themed subject Reader View or page, which offers theuser all of a themed subject's editorial content in a single, printablescreen (i.e., the content of each of the topics and joining descriptionsdepicted in the graphical representation), The general functionality ofthe global navigation links and functionalities (account, search box,shopping cart, etc.) and of social media buttons is available at the topand bottom of the screen. This screen or page also includes links to thethemed subject landing page (FIG. 12 ) and to the home page (FIG. 3 ).

FIG. 21 a is a schematic diagram depicting the components of computersystem/server 10, which can implement the inventive system and method.Computer system/server 10 includes one or more processors, such asprocessor 2110, which is connected to a bus 2105. Via the bus, thesystem/server 10 further connects to a display interface 2130 thatforwards graphics, text, and other data from the bus or from a framebuffer (not shown) for display on display 2132 (via display interface2130). Please note that display 2132 may be local or remote (forexample, communicated to via Internet 30).

FIG. 21 a shows system/server 10 to include a main memory 2120, such asrandom access memory (RAM) and a secondary memory 2150. The secondarymemory 2150 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 2152 and/or aremovable storage drive 2154, representing a floppy disk drive, amagnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, flash memory device, etc.The removable storage drive 2154 reads from and/or writes to a removablestorage unit 2542. Removable storage unit 2542 represents a floppy disk,magnetic tape, optical disk, flash memory device, etc., which is read byand written to by removable storage drive 2154. The removable storageunit 2542 includes a computer usable storage medium having storedtherein computer software, instructions, and/or data. The instructionsare executed by system/server 10 or like computer-based devices to carryout the inventive method.

Secondary memory 2150 also may include similar devices for allowingcomputer programs or other instructions to be loaded into thesystem/server 10. Such devices may include, for example, a removablestorage unit 2544 and an interface 2156. Examples of such may include aprogram cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in videogame devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), or programmable read-only memory (PROM)) andassociated socket, and other removable storage units 2544 and interface2156, which allow computer software, instructions, and/or data to betransferred from the removable storage unit 2542 to system/server 10.

System/sever 10 also includes a communications interface 2140 thatallows computer software, instructions, and/or data to be transferredbetween system/server 10 and external devices. Examples ofcommunications interface 2140 may include a modem, a network interface(such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal ComputerMemory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc.Software and data transferred via communications interface 2140 are inthe form of signals which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical orother signals capable of being received by communications interface viaa communications path (e.g., channel) 2142, This channel 2142 carriessignals and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, atelephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF) link, a wirelesscommunication link, and other communications channels.

In this document, the terms “computer-readable storage medium,”“computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used togenerally refer to media such as removable storage drive 2154, removablestorage units 2542, 2544, data transmitted via communications interface2140, and/or a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 2152, referred tobroadly as computer program products. The computer program productsprovide computer software instructions (in a form of a computer program,for example) and/or data to system/server 10. These computer programproducts also serve to transform a general purpose computer into aspecial purpose computer programmed to perform particular functions,pursuant to instructions from the computer program products/software.Embodiments of the present invention are directed to such computerprogram products.

Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) arestored in main memory 2120 and/or secondary memory 2150. Computerprograms also may be received via communications interface 2140. Suchcomputer programs, when executed, enable the system/server 10 to performthe inventive method. Accordingly, such computer programs representcontrollers of the system/server 20. Where appropriate, the processor2110, associated components and equivalent systems and sub-systems serveas “means for” performing selected operations and functions. Such “meansfor” performing selected operations and functions also serve totransform a general purpose computer into a special purpose computerthat performs said selected operations and functions.

In a software embodiment, the software may be stored in a computerprogram product, computer readable medium or computer readable device202 (FIG. 21 b ) and loaded into the system/server 10 using removablestorage drive 2154, interface 2156, hard drive 2152, communicationsinterface 2140, or equivalents thereof. The control logic (software),when executed by the processor 2110, causes the processor to perform thefunctions and methods described herein. Such computer-readable mediummay include read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magneticdisk storage media, optical storage media, or flash memory devices.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart 2200 depicting one embodiment of acomputer-implemented method of operating a user-searchable databasesystem of curated, themed digital content data according to theinvention. Block 2210 represents a step of processing heterogeneousdigital content data, comprising topics, to realize a collection oftopical data records, to identify connections defining a degree ofrelatedness between topical data records and other topical data records.

Block 2220 represents a step of operating an interface to search thecurated content and to generate search results. Block 2230 represents astep of rendering a search results page (FIG. 8 ) including a list ofmatching topic screen elements 842, in a prioritized order ofpresentation based on a degree of relatedness of the topic content tothe search query, each topic screen element displayed with some part ofthe stored topic content and, interactive links, including a link torelated topical data records.

The rendering of the search results page (FIG. 8 ) preferably includespresenting links to other data including multimedia data, if available.The step of “operating . . . to generate” (2230) preferably includesidentifying products based on a degree of relatedness to the Connectstopic and/or the user's search term, and preferably includes generatinga list of themed subjects (850; 852), from a store of themed subjectrecords. The interactive links include a link to product data, and arepreferably displayed in a prioritized list reflecting the degree ofrelatedness (860; 862). The step of rendering themed subjects preferablyincludes displaying themed subject screen elements in a way thatcommunicates the themed subject's editorially curated relationships,using a graphical representation (FIG. 5 ). The editorially curatedrelationships, or joining descriptions, comprise text explaining therelationship between the two topics which are part of a themed subject,wherein the relatedness is based on editorially curated relationships,and wherein the topics are positioned in a display to communicaterelatedness.

The step of rendering the Connects topics preferably includes displayingtopic data elements in a way that communicates the relationship betweenthe topic and other topics, wherein the degree of relatedness creates aranking or score, and the positioning of a topic element in a display (alist) to communicate relatedness is based on the ranking/score. The stepof searching preferably further includes generating a list of productshaving a degree of relatedness to the search, and displaying acollection of the product screen elements.

In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions areused to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessarylimitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrationsdepicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms andillustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scopeof the present invention.

It is further known that other modifications may be made to the presentinvention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in theappended Claims.

We claim:
 1. A computer-implemented method of operating auser-searchable database system of curated, themed digital content data,comprising steps of: receiving a search topic entered on a userinterface; comparing the search topic with a collection of curatedtopics to find curated topics matching the search topic; and rendering asearch results page having first and second areas, wherein the firstarea includes the matching curated topics in a prioritized order ofpresentation based on degree of relatedness scores, wherein each of thecurated topics is displayed with some part of the respective topic'sstored content, and, an interactive link to the respective topic'sconnected topics; and the second area includes stored theme subjects,which are ranked according to relevance to the search topic.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method defined by claim 1, wherein the step ofrendering the second area further includes presenting product data in aprioritized order of presentation based on a degree of relatedness ofthe product data to the search.
 3. The computer-implemented methoddefined by claim 2, wherein the product data are presented as screenelements and wherein the product screen elements actively link to aprocess or function for purchasing the product associated with theproduct screen element.
 4. The computer-implemented method defined byclaim 1, wherein the step of rendering includes presenting a pagedisplaying a themed subject in a way that communicates the themedsubject's editorially curated relationships, using a graphicalrepresentation.
 5. The computer-implemented method defined by claim 4,wherein the editorially curated relationships included in the graphicalrepresentation of a themed subject comprise links to texts describingthe editorially curated relationships between connected topic pairscomprising the themed subjects.
 6. The computer-implemented methoddefined by claim 1, further comprising a step of presenting links tosocial networking sites or processes that enable users to upload curatedtopic data as well as themed subjects and graphical representationsrelated thereto.
 7. A computer program product comprising program codemeans stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, forcarrying out all steps of the method according to claim 1 when thecomputer program product is run on a computer or processor-drivendevice.
 8. A database system, comprising: a processor; a memory; and aninterface enabling communication by and with the database system;wherein the memory includes a set of computer-readable instructions thatupon execution by the process implements the method of operating thedatabase system according to claim
 1. 9. A computer-implemented methodof operating a user-searchable database system of curated, themeddigital content data, comprising steps of: operating a user interface toenable a user to search curated topics and present a search results pageincluding topics matching terms defining the search; and operating aShop function to: display matching topics in one of first and secondareas in a prioritized order based on each of the matching topic'sdegree of relatedness score, to the search, and display, in the other ofthe one of the first and second areas, stored theme subjects, which areranked according to relevance to the search topic.
 10. Thecomputer-implemented method as defined in claim 9, wherein the Shopsfunction generates one Shop for each curated topic, and wherein eachShop comprises a list or compilation of product data associated with atopic and its connected topics.
 11. The computer-implemented method asdefined by claim 10, wherein the Shops function generates product datascreen elements for each product of a Shop, and wherein the userinterface displays the product as a screen element.
 12. Thecomputer-implemented method as defined in claim 9, wherein the Shopfunction includes a Shop based on a relatedness of products to thesearch, a Shop based on relatedness to a disambiguated Connects topicand a Shop based on relatedness to the topics within a themed subject.13. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 9, wherein Shopsare displayed in the other one of the first and second areas as Shopscreen elements that upon activation by a user cause a products purchasepage to be presented that enables the user to purchase the productassociated with the Shop screen element so selected by the user.
 14. Thecomputer-implemented method defined by claim 9, wherein the userinterface provides for displaying a home page to receive the user searchqueries and to present a daily feature element within which links totopics, themed subjects, Shops and product data are presented asindividual screen elements within the daily feature element.
 15. Thecomputer-implemented method defined by claim 14, further including achange element within the daily feature element that enables the user tonavigate sequentially through thematically related sets of theindividual screen elements.
 16. The computer-implemented method definedby claim 9, further including presenting links in rendered pages tosocial media websites and/or application program interfaces to enableusers to share search results including themed subjects.
 17. A computerprogram product comprising program code means stored on a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium, for carrying out all steps of themethod according to claim 9 when the computer program product is run ona computer or processor-driven device.
 18. A database system,comprising: a processor; a memory; and an interface enablingcommunication by and with the database system; wherein the memoryincludes a set of computer-readable instructions that upon execution bythe process implements the method of operating the database systemaccording to claim 9.